The Lifeline of Creative Executives

My friend Ro Rao recently posted a holiday note linking to his latest art project. As an artist, animator, filmmaker, author, and agency creative, Ro is always up for breaking new ground. This time he was dabbling with trash paintings and publically challenged himself to post one per day for 100 days. Lucky for us and Instagram and Facebok, his commitment and follow-through yielded almost twice that amount, and helped inspire this newsletter.

Now that you’ve had a few weeks to get used to 2014, I want to encourage you to make a commitment to yourself this year – a commitment to create something that has meaning to you. Make yourart.

Most of you come up with creative solutions every day for work. But creating from a personal place of vision and proactivity is a different beast, and usually requires a different process.

Like Ro, it often comes down to learning about being proactive and declaring intentions. Creating from a place of proactivity is the opportunity to go deep and really think about what your passion is.

It’s where the voice of values can’t be muted, and the hero’s journey often can’t be avoided.

Carving out the time to harvest your ideas and bring them to life creates growth and awareness that’s unmatched. It can feel like hard work because sometimes it’sthe hardest work you’ll do.

So, what do you want to make this year? And in this life?

Create something important to you this year.

Whether it’s art, film, a business, a relationship, a philanthropic cause, find the time to go deep down. Let yourself and those around you experience your conviction and your commitment. Inspire yourself. Startle and move us.

As one of my favorite online personalities, Marie Forleo, says: “Stay on your game … because the world needs that special gift that only you have.”

”The arts are not a way of making a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.